EP3245348B1 - Light guiding block having a luminous frame - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a Lichtleitblock according to the preamble of the protection claim. 1

Light guide blocks, consisting of a plurality of cast in a curable filling material Lichtleitstäben, have become known in various embodiments. For example, it follows from the US 4 570 207 A in that the hardenable filling material is a concrete material which can transfer high loads and the light guide rods cast therein are respectively visible on the two opposite flat sides of the light guiding block.

Prerequisite in the production of a Lichtleitblocks after US 4 570 207 A is, however, that the Lichtleitblock is inserted into a mold in which already the Lichtleitstäbe are arranged, and then the mold is subsequently filled with the curable filler.

As an example of such a form is the EP 2 179 105 B1 specified. There is in FIG. 6 shown a half-open tub, in the interior of the Lichtleitstäbe are inserted fixed in a support structure.

Disadvantage of this arrangement is the high cost of producing a Lichtleitblocks, because it must first be fixed the Lichtleitstäbe in a suitable support structure, which must then be anchored in the mold, then pour out the block and thereby ensure that the entire structure is not bent, deformed or even damaged in the pouring tub due to the incoming filling material.

For this reason, the cited document provides FIG. 7 a subdivided by tencrew mold to withstand the high molding pressure during casting.

Accordingly, the disadvantage in the production of such Lichtleitblocks in a lot of work, because after curing of the Lichtleitblocks in the form of the Lichtleitblock must be removed from the mold, the mold is then cleaned again, treated the mold surfaces to be poured with a release agent, then pour out a new light guide block.

The invention is therefore based on the object, a light guide block of the type mentioned in such a way that a much lower manufacturing cost in the production of a Lichtleitblocks is given, and that in addition even more luminous properties can be achieved on such Lichtleitblock.

To solve the problem, the invention is characterized by the technical teaching of claim 1.

Feature of the invention is that the Lichtleitstäbe are now formed according to the invention as Kunststoffspritz- or -formteile and are integrally formed on one or more surfaces of an at least partially or partially made of lichtleitendem plastic tub.

With this technical teaching, a completely new way in the production of Lichtleitblöcken is trodden, because the tub itself is now part of the Lichtleitblocks, and according to the invention are at least some or all surfaces of the existing plastic tub partially or partially photoconductive, so that such Lichtleitblock in built-in state along with the walls of the tub lights.

The tub thus forms a lost formwork for the Lichtleitblock because it adheres to the cured casting material of Lichtleitblocks and is installed with the Lichtleitblock.

In a preferred embodiment, the Lichtleitstäbe are material integrally molded as an injection molded part to the well also produced in the same injection molding process tub, so that the tub and molded thereon Lichtleitstäbe are manufactured in one and the same injection molding process. The injection molding tool is in this case one-piece, because the tub and light bars are sprayed in a single operation.

In another embodiment of the invention, it may be provided that initially the tub is made of a plastic injection molded part, and that are not yet cured plastic of the tub now the Lichtleitstäbe be sprayed to the surfaces of the tub, so in turn a lichtleitendes, einstoffeinstückiges, continuous To obtain plastic injection molded part. The injection molding tool is formed in two parts in this case and consists of a so-called follow-up tool, because tub and Lichtleitstäbe are produced in quick succession in the injection molding tool.

In protection claim 1 it is indicated that the surfaces of the tub at least partially or partially consist of a photoconductive plastic.

The term "partially existing" means that it is not necessary to make the plastic of the tub of the same photoconductive material as the plastic of the molded thereon Lichtleitstäbe.

According to the manufacturing process described above, first the tub can be made of a first plastic material, which is for example also colored, translucent, partially transparent or otherwise light-conducting, in order to then the Lichtleitstäbe from the same or to mold another plastic material to the walls of the tub, so as to achieve a material integral composite between the Lichtleitstäben and the walls of the tub.

For example, if the light-conducting rods are of a different plastic material, they are not colored while the plastic material of the tub is colored.

Likewise, the plastic material of the tub may be made of a different plastic than comparatively molded there Lichtleitstäbe.

The term "sectioned" means that it is not necessary that all surfaces of the tub be made of a photoconductive material. It may, for example, the bottom wall of the tub made of a photoconductive material, so as to steer in a particularly favorable manner arranged on the bottom wall or below the bottom wall light source on all material integral with the bottom wall connected Lichtleitstäbe. In this case, a light is introduced to the light guide rods formed on the bottom side of the tub in a particularly effective manner, because the incident light is distributed over the entire surface of the bottom side and this lights up.

In this embodiment, it is not necessary for the solution, although the peripheral walls of the tub made of a photoconductive plastic; however, such an embodiment is preferred.

The term "tub" is therefore understood to mean a container which is open on one side and which forms the form of form for a curable mass to be infused there. Thus, the term "pan" is understood to mean all forms of form that are open at least on one side, regardless of whether they are one-piece or multi-piece. A multi-part tray consists for example of a bottom wall on which the side rear and end walls are releasably fastened.

In another embodiment of the invention, it may be provided that both the bottom wall and all (or some of) the circumferential walls of the tub made of a photoconductive plastic, resulting in the specified in the title of this invention luminous frame of a Lichtleitblockes.

This means that the tub is lit altogether; and when such a Lichtleitblock is built with a tub of photoconductive material in a bottom surface, there is a bright, light-emitting, circumferential frame for the Lichtleitblock, which is formed from the light-emitting end faces of the peripheral walls of the tub.

The protection claim 1 leaves, moreover, on which surfaces of the trough the Lichtleitstäbe are formed. Although it is preferred if the Lichtleitstäbe are integrally formed on the bottom wall of the tub and so form a material integral connecting surface made of the plastic of the light guide rod with the plastic of the bottom pan.

In another embodiment, however, it may also be provided that additional Lichtleitstäbe are formed on the walls of the tub, or that alone on the walls of the tub Lichtleitstäbe are formed, which are angled so that they also emit a light, upper side of view Form Lichtleitblockes.

In one development, it can also be provided that a part of the light-conducting rods are integrally formed on the bottom wall of the trough, and another part of the light-conducting rods are integrally formed on the side walls of the trough. If the side walls of the tub are colored and the bottom wall is not, this results in a different light impression of Lichtleitstäbe, because the adjoining the side wall Lichtleitstäbe a differently colored light in the direction of the visible side of the Lichtleitblockes steer than comparatively formed on the bottom wall Lichtleitstäbe.

It is likewise preferred if the bottom wall as a whole consists of a light-conducting plastic. However, the invention is not limited thereto. It can also be provided that the bottom wall is only partially (that is, not completely transparent) or even partially sectionally light-conducting, and that the light-conducting rods are formed in these areas.

In a further development of the invention, it may be otherwise provided that the light-emitting frame of the Lichtleitblockes is not formed circumferentially. After the manufacture of the light guide block, with the pouring into the tub, some walls of the tub may be removed again, for example to illuminate only the top bar and the opposite bottom bar of the light guiding block, which means that the side walls have been subsequently removed, and only the front wall and the opposite rear wall of the tub form the light frame.

For the introduction of light in such a light guide block, in which the tub as a lost formwork itself represents at least a part of the light guide, there are various possibilities of light generation.

In a first embodiment of the invention, it is provided that for generating light on the bottom wall of the tub, this bottom wall with a number of light-generating light rods can be coupled.

Such light rods may be, for example, a chain of LEDs electrically connected to one another or also, for example, fluorescent light elements, filaments and the like.

Such, designed as light rods lighting elements are preferably coupled to the bottom wall of the Lichtleitblocks, and this is inventively provided that the individual, straight light rods inserted into associated, downwardly open longitudinal grooves in the bottom wall or be clamped together and connected in series, so as to form an LED light chain on the bottom side of the light guide block.

In another embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the light-emitting surface on the bottom wall of the trough consists of a light plate in which a number of luminous elements arranged in a matrix, such as LEDs, are arranged, and that this light plate releasably connected to the bottom wall the Lichtleitblocks is coupled.

For this purpose, it is preferred that the light guide plate has lateral, frame-like circumferential locking legs, which can be latched into an associated, frame-like circumferential locking groove on the bottom wall of the tub.

Of course, it is also sufficient for the coupling of the light plate to provide at some points corresponding latching or locking points, the light plate is preferably releasably connected to the bottom wall of the tub.

It is further preferred if there are further openings in the trough to ensure that moisture entering from above, which eventually penetrates into the filling material, is discharged downwards again.

In the invention, it is therefore essential that the tub as a light-emitting frame results in a completely new light impression in the construction of such Lichtleitblockes. This was not known in the art. In addition to the types of light generation described here, it is also possible to insert light rods or lighting elements into the not yet poured out pan and to pour it out with the filling material.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the filling material consists of a hardenable concrete. The invention is not limited thereto. Any filler that is hardenable may be used. As a result, plastic foams, gypsum or other curable fillers may also be used.

All information and features disclosed in the documents, including the abstract, in particular the spatial design shown in the drawings, are claimed to be essential to the invention insofar as they are novel individually or in combination with respect to the prior art.

In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to drawings illustrating several execution paths. Here are from the drawings and their description further features essential to the invention and advantages of the invention.

• Figur 1: schematisiert die Draufsicht auf einen Lichtleitblock im noch nicht ausgegossenen Zustand
• Figur 2: der Lichtleitblock nach Figur 1 gemäß dem Schnitt der Linie A-A
• Figur 3: der Lichtleitblock nach Figur 2 im ausgegossenen Zustand
• Figur 4: eine gegenüber Figur 3 abgewandelte Ausführungsform eines Lichtleitblocks
• Figur 5: ein Detail C nach Figur 2
• Figur 6: ein Lichtleitblock als Detaildarstellung im noch nicht ausgegossenen Zustand
• Figur 7: der Lichtleitblock nach Figur 2 mit Darstellung der Lichterzeugung über Lichtstäbe
• Figur 8: Schnitt gemäß der Linie VIII-VIII in Figur 7
• Figur 9: eine gegenüber Figur 7 abgewandelte Ausführungsform, bei der zur Lichterzeugung eine Lichtplatte verwendet wird
• Figur 10: in auseinandergezogener Darstellung der Schnitt gemäß der Linie X-X in Figur 9
• Figur 11: die Draufsicht auf die Sichtseite von in einer Fläche eingebauten Lichtleitblöcken mit Darstellung des sich hieraus ergebenden Leuchtrahmens

Show it:

• FIG. 1 : schematizes the plan view of a Lichtleitblock in the not yet poured out state
• FIG. 2 : the light guide block after FIG. 1 according to the section of the line AA
• FIG. 3 : the light guide block after FIG. 2 in the poured state
• FIG. 4 : one opposite FIG. 3 modified embodiment of a Lichtleitblocks
• FIG. 5 : a detail C after FIG. 2
• FIG. 6 : a light guide block as a detail in the not yet poured out state
• FIG. 7 : the light guide block after FIG. 2 with representation of the light generation over light rods
• FIG. 8 Section according to the line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7
• FIG. 9 : one opposite FIG. 7 modified embodiment in which a light plate is used to generate light
• FIG. 10 : in an exploded view the section according to the line XX in FIG. 9
• FIG. 11 : The plan view of the visible side of built-in a surface Lichtleitblöcken showing the resultant light-emitting frame

In the Figures 1 and 2 schematically a Lichtleitblock 1 is shown, which consists of a plastic injection molded part, which is formed in itself from a photoconductive plastic.

The Lichtleitblock 1 consists of a trough 3, which consists of a bottom wall 4, are integrally formed on the side walls 5, 6. Forward and backward, the tub 3 is closed by a respective end wall 7 and a rear wall 8.

In the illustrated embodiment, the Lichtleitblock 1 has external dimensions of, for example, 396 x 396 mm, and the width of the arranged there Lichtleitstäbe 9 is about 40 mm and the mutual distance between the Lichtleitstäben 9 about 60 mm.

The thickness of the rear wall 8 and all side walls is about 2 mm.

The height of the tub is about 51 mm and the thickness of the bottom wall about 1.5 mm.

Out FIG. 2 shows that on the bottom wall 4, a plurality of Lichtleitstäben 9 are material integrally formed, via the bonding surfaces 10 shown there.

It has been pointed out in the general description that the Lichtleitstäbe 9 can be made in one and the same injection molding together with the tub 3, or - in another embodiment - in a so-called follow-up tool, in which first the tub 3 is injected, and then to the bottom wall 4 of the tub produced later the Lichtleitstäbe 9 are formed by injection molding.

It is important that there is a favorable optical transition at the connecting surfaces 10 in order to allow undisturbed as possible a light pipe between the bottom wall 4 and the light guide rods 9 placed thereon and molded on.

The FIG. 3 shows you one Figures 1 and 2 There, it can be seen that it is filled with a curable filling material 11. Only schematically are two spaced-apart light sources 13 indicated that direct a light in the direction of arrows 14 against the bottom wall 4.

This light is distributed over the light-conducting bottom wall 4 in all directions, so that on the one hand - in the direction of arrows - penetrates into the underside of Lichtleitstäbe 9 and on the other hand, however, also exits laterally on the walls 4-8.

Thus, the circumferential walls 5-8 shine both in the direction of arrow 16 upwards and in the direction of arrow 15 to the side, so that - depending on the presence of the walls 5-8 - a circumferential or non-circumferential light-emitting frame around the Lichtleitblock 1 results.

The main light emission is carried out in the direction of arrow 17 on the light-emitting end faces of upwardly directed to the visible side Lichtleitstäbe 9.

The FIG. 4 shows as opposite FIG. 3 modified embodiment, that some peripheral walls, for example, the side walls 5, 6, can be omitted, so that only the bottom wall 4 is present and also the end wall 7 and / or the rear wall 8, so given only in the area of the existing walls a light frame is, while the remaining wall surfaces omitted.

The FIG. 5 shows as enlarged detail C from the FIG. 2 in that the light emission takes place over all surfaces of the walls 4-8.

The FIG. 6 schematically shows a trough 3 according to the invention, which is not yet filled with filler 11.

The FIG. 7 shows as a first possibility of light generation so-called light rods 18, which may consist of individual, concatenated LEDs, which are clipped or clamped as straight rods in associated, downwardly open longitudinal grooves 23 in the bottom wall 4.

The LEDs form a continuous light chain and are electrically connected to each other via the two power cables 20, 21 in series.

Because the light-emitting light rods 18 are arranged directly below the light-conducting rods 9, the light-emitting end face 19 emits a particularly intense light in the direction of the arrows 17 towards the top.

On the other hand, the light bars 18 also illuminate the bottom wall 4, so that the light in the indicated arrow directions 24, 25 reaches the peripheral walls 5-8, where it generates the light-emitting frame.

According to the series connection after FIG. 7 the light bars 18 are electrically connected via connecting cable 22 in series.

According to FIGS. 9 and 10 Another preferred embodiment of the light generation is to see that according to FIG. 10 a light plate 26 is proposed, which is formed for example as a current-conducting board, on the surface of a number of LEDs 27 are arranged in a grid pattern. The light plate 26 thus formed is coupled to the bottom wall 4 of the tub 3 characterized in that upwardly directed latching legs 28 are arranged on the light plate 26, which can be latched into an associated, circumferential latching groove 29 on the underside of the bottom wall 4.

Of course, the invention is not limited to this embodiment. There may be some detent points or locking surfaces, and there may be other releasable connections between a light plate 26 and the associated bottom wall 4 of the tub 3. For example, mechanical locking means, adhesives, adhesives or the like between the light plate 26 and the bottom wall 4 of the tub 3 may be arranged.

The FIG. 11 shows an installation state of juxtaposed grid-shaped arranged Lichtleitblöcken, where it can be seen that now the peripheral walls shown here 5-8 produce a luminous frame 31, which emits the light upwards.

The light plate 26, which initiates the light in the direction of arrow 30 in the bottom wall 4 of a single Lichtleitblocks 1 may be larger or smaller than the surface of the bottom wall. However, it can also be designed substantially larger and, for example, in FIG. 11 spanned illustrated number of Lichtleitblöcken 1 bottom side. Thus, a plurality of juxtaposed Lichtleitblöcke be supplied with a light plate 26 with light.

In an embodiment not shown in the drawing, it is provided that the introduction of light does not take place on the bottom wall 4 of the trough 3, but takes place on one or more of the side walls 5, 6 and / or the front and / or rear wall 7, 8.

For the type of light introduction into said walls 5-8, all the constructions described above which have been described above with regard to the introduction of light into the bottom wall 4 are suitable. Accordingly, both the introduction of light via light guide rods 18 laid in longitudinal grooves 23 in the walls 5-8 is possible, as well as the introduction of light via light plates 26, which are now arranged opposite one another and in light-conducting contact with one or more of the walls 5-8.

The introduction of light into one or more of the side walls 5-8 has the advantage that the height of the light guide block 1 is not increased because the bottom-side support of light-emitting elements is eliminated.

In addition, however, it can also be provided that the light plate 26 is angled and allows both a light introduction into the bottom plate and a light introduction into one or more walls 5-8.

It can likewise be provided that the longitudinal grooves 23 with the light-conducting rods 18 arranged there are arranged both in one or more of the walls 5-8 and additionally in the bottom wall 4.

drawing Legend

1

Lichtleitblock

2

Lichtleitblock

3

Tub (photoconductive)

4

bottom wall

5

Side wall

6

Side wall

7

bulkhead

8th

rear wall

9

Lichtleitstab

10

interface

11

filling material

12

filling height

13

light source

14

arrow

15

arrow

16

arrow

17

arrow

18

light staff

19

Front side (from 9)

20

power cable

21

power cable

22

connection cable

23

longitudinal groove

24

arrow

25

arrow

26

light plate

27

LED

28

latching leg

29

locking groove

30

arrow

31

illuminated frames

Claims (8)

1. Light guiding block consisting of a plurality of light guiding rods (9) embedded in a curable filler material (11), wherein to produce the light guiding block (1, 2), the curable filler material (11) is placed in an at least half-open trough (3), wherein the trough (3) consists of a base wall (4) and peripheral walls (5-8), characterised in that the light guiding rods (9) are moulded as plastic injection-moulded parts or plastic moulded parts onto surfaces (4-8) of the trough (3) consisting at least partly or in sections of a light guiding plastic.
2. Light guiding block according to claim 1, characterised in that the light guiding rods (9) are moulded onto the at least partly or in sections light guiding base wall (4) of the trough (3).
3. Light guiding block according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the trough (3) is produced as a whole from a light guiding plastic and in that at least some walls (4-8) of the trough (3) are designed to be light emitting.
4. Light guiding block according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that after the production of the light guiding block, some of the peripheral walls (5-8) of the trough (3) are removed.
5. Light guiding block according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that for generating light at the base wall (4) of the trough (3), the base wall can be coupled to a number of light generating light rods (18).
6. Light guiding block according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that for generating light at the base wall (4) of the trough (3), the base wall (4) can be coupled to a light generating light panel (26).
7. Light guiding block according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that throughflow openings for discharging the surface water are arranged in the base plate (4) of the trough (3).
8. Light guiding block according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the light guiding block (1a-1d) in the installed state forms a luminous frame (31) on the visible side.

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